Short-scar purse-string facelift.

Despite the variety of novel facial rejuvenation technologies available today, the reference standard for correction of the senescent jaw line and neck remains rhytidectomy. This article describes the purse-string facelift, a vertical facelift that moves away from traditional techniques that use a horizontal vector of subcutaneous muscle-aponeurotic system repositioning. The vertical facelift can counterbalance the effects of gravity and natural facial aging and can reposition the facial soft tissues into a more youthful position more directly and correctly. Rather than multiple, separate sutures to support the suspended tissues, the purse-string technique offers two distinct advantages: operative expediency and a tenacious suture anchor based on the periosteum of the posterolateral zygomatic arch.